Student detained for burning SBY photo

INDONESIA: A student at the State Islamic University in Jakarta was detained on Friday for allegedly burning a photograph of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono during a protest on Monday against fuel price increases.

South Jakarta Police chief Sr. Comr. Ghufron said Bay Harkad Firdaus, alias Jonday, would be charged under Article 134 of the Criminal Code for insulting the head of state.

Several witnesses said Jonday was forcibly removed from his campus by four armed men. There were rumors he had been kidnapped, and his family and friends filed a police report.

"We did not kidnap him. We just picked him up and later notified his family," Ghufron said on Saturday.

Article 134 of the Criminal Code was often used during the Soeharto regime to silence government critics. -- JP